In relation to the Feminist Art Program’s Womanhouse project, I came across another interesting installation project launched this week by the Art Institute of Chicago as a part of their exhibition Van Gogh’s Bedrooms, which will show all three versions of Van Gogh’s portrait of his bedroom in Arles together for the first time in the United States, alongside approximately 30 other works.
In order to promote the show, which opened February 14th and runs until May 10th, the Art Institute collaborated with Airbnb to recreate Van Gogh’s bedroom, which can be rented by guests in order to stay the night and experience Chicago’s version of Van Gogh’s Arles.
I’m not sure that this would be classed as socially engaged art, however it does question the centrality of the art object. Van Gogh’s painting is no longer a 2 dimensional canvas on a wall, but a room in which one can move, sleep and live. It allows for social engagement within its bounds and in fact encourages it, since the room is meant for two guests. It is an installation piece that is in commentary with its canvas counterparts, and the observer’s perspective of each work in turn influences their perspective of the other.
It is also interesting to consider the work from a pedagogical perspective – an installation + canvas pairing like this has the capacity to bring Van Gogh’s original works and his history to life in a way that could connect with a much broader audience.
Airbnb Posting: https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/10981658?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=social&utm_content=02-09&utm_campaign=vangoghbnb
Art Institute’s Exhibition website: http://extras.artic.edu/van-gogh-bedrooms